Federal Judge Rules Cheerleading is not a Sport

[Bahnzo]

Re: Federal Judge Rules Cheerleading is not a Sport

Some of you need to see the Penn & Teller Bull**** episode on cheerleading to see what's really going on here (sadly it's the only episode this season whose topic was at all informative or entertaining, although it was only mildly so).

I was going to mention this, but thanks for doing it for me.....

The issue with it being a sport isn't as much to do with if it's actually a "sport" as we want to perceive it, but everything to do with safety for the participants. And it's the money being made by these cheerleading suppliers that helps it remain classified as not a sport.

According to the show (And I rarely doubt their research) cheerleading results in more injuries than all the other high-school sports combined. And it doesn't have a governing body, so there's nothing to regulate it. And since it's not a sport, there aren't any properly trained coaches, trainers, and doctors assigned to these girls....who often train with inadequate equipment.

And if you see the stuff these girls do now, it's definitely dangerous. No longer is cheerleading the stuff I/we knew 20 years ago. Keeping it from being a sport is only hurting the girls who participate, and only helps the companies that profit from it. Period.

[Hova57]

Re: Federal Judge Rules Cheerleading is not a Sport

well in respects to Title IX you guys just lost a sport so what sport cheerleading was keeping afloat just got dropped too.

[MassNole]

Re: Federal Judge Rules Cheerleading is not a Sport

QFT!

Exactly right. Basically all of cheerleading is governed by one private for profit corporation. Their bottom line is what matters, not the safety and well being of their customers. If this was a sanctioned sport legitimate safety rules could be put into place to protect the children involved. I really would have liked to have seen the Court come up with some alternative to the sport classification, perhaps going with the idea of embracing the concept of sports entertainment and allowing governing bodies in states to regulate the participants in those activities. Under this guise I would easily say Cheerleading, Gymnastics, Wrestling, Band, Flag Team, etc. would be sports entertainment and as such should be regulated by a state agency the way interscholastic sports are.

[Hova57]

Re: Federal Judge Rules Cheerleading is not a Sport

QFT!

Exactly right. Basically all of cheerleading is governed by one private for profit corporation. Their bottom line is what matters, not the safety and well being of their customers. If this was a sanctioned sport legitimate safety rules could be put into place to protect the children involved. I really would have liked to have seen the Court come up with some alternative to the sport classification, perhaps going with the idea of embracing the concept of sports entertainment and allowing governing bodies in states to regulate the participants in those activities. Under this guise I would easily say Cheerleading, Gymnastics, Wrestling, Band, Flag Team, etc. would be sports entertainment and as such should be regulated by a state agency the way interscholastic sports are.

i was thinking the same thing but i was think of a re examination of all programs they would have to be classified either team sports or club sports
Team sports run by revenue of those sport participating -baseball, football and basketball.

Then you would have club sports - volleyball, tennis, wrestiling and so forth.
The school could determine what club sports they could putmoney into and it worth the exposure while others are refined to strict bugets restraints which could close it down.

[deaduck]

Re: Federal Judge Rules Cheerleading is not a Sport

Exactly right. Basically all of cheerleading is governed by one private for profit corporation. Their bottom line is what matters, not the safety and well being of their customers. If this was a sanctioned sport legitimate safety rules could be put into place to protect the children involved. I really would have liked to have seen the Court come up with some alternative to the sport classification, perhaps going with the idea of embracing the concept of sports entertainment and allowing governing bodies in states to regulate the participants in those activities. Under this guise I would easily say Cheerleading, Gymnastics, Wrestling, Band, Flag Team, etc. would be sports entertainment and as such should be regulated by a state agency the way interscholastic sports are.

Well, strictly from a personal point of view here in VA to be a sports entertainment wrestler and/or boxer you have to be licensed by the DPOR and the event has to be santioned by the DPOR. This hasn't done ANYTHING to protect my safety at all...in fact it just made the commonwealth another profiteer from my activity.

If this was simply a matter of protecting the well being of cheerleader I'd half heartedly support it but the reality is it's being pushed so it can allow AD's to drop other womens programs by reclassifing something that will exist regardless of title 9. And STILL won't help the cheer squads out in the least budget/safety wise.

[Bahnzo]

Re: Federal Judge Rules Cheerleading is not a Sport

And STILL won't help the cheer squads out in the least budget/safety wise.

That's just not true. If it was considered a sport, then safety would be MUCH better. As it stands now, there is very little to none.

[ProjectRipCity]

Re: Federal Judge Rules Cheerleading is not a Sport

Very sad days for the males in San Francisco. Jeeths

[superjames1992]

Re: Federal Judge Rules Cheerleading is not a Sport

Gotta love these threads with guys calling sports they don't like non-sports. Just because you don't like it doesn't mean that it's not a sport. I think bowling is rather boring to watch, but that doesn't mean that it's not a sport. Fishing isn't really my thing, but I would also consider it a sport. Same with hunting. While they don't necessarily require intense physical activity, neither does golf and the like.

BTW, when I talk about fishing or hunting as a sport, I mean sport-fishing and such. Going deer hunting with a few buddies probably isn't a sport, but trying to catch as many fish as you can in a competitive event like a bass fishing tournament is.

[Cusefan]

Re: Federal Judge Rules Cheerleading is not a Sport

Gotta love these threads with guys calling sports they don't like non-sports. Just because you don't like it doesn't mean that it's not a sport. I think bowling is rather boring to watch, but that doesn't mean that it's not a sport. Fishing isn't really my thing, but I would also consider it a sport. Same with hunting. While they don't necessarily require intense physical activity, neither does golf and the like.

BTW, when I talk about fishing or hunting as a sport, I mean sport-fishing and such. Going deer hunting with a few buddies probably isn't a sport, but trying to catch as many fish as you can in a competitive event like a bass fishing tournament is.

I simply do not see how you cannot call Cheerleading a sport, It requires more athleticism than most "sports" and there are competitions. I would like to see some of the people on this site try cheerleading, I guarantee it would absolutely kick their A**.


Seriously, I would love to see the people who are bashing cheerleading hold another person over their head by their shoes.

[SuperBowlNachos]

Re: Federal Judge Rules Cheerleading is not a Sport

There goes Boxing, MMA, and Gymnastics. Oh well.

Gymnastics definitely isn't. Neither is figure skating. It's 100% based on judges.

MMA and Boxing only go to a human vote when a clear winner is not decided after a certain number of rounds of contest.

I simply do not see how you cannot call Cheerleading a sport, It requires more athleticism than most "sports" and there are competitions. I would like to see some of the people on this site try cheerleading, I guarantee it would absolutely kick their A**.


Seriously, I would love to see the people who are bashing cheerleading hold another person over their head by their shoes.

Who has said that what they do is easy? I'm sure everyone of the girls on these ESPN competitions are in better shape then anyone in this thread, and the guys holding these girls up with one arm could beat down anyone here.

That doesn't make it a sport.

[NDAlum]

Re: Federal Judge Rules Cheerleading is not a Sport

You all fail to see the reality behind this decision and it's disappointing.

All of you should WANT cheerleading to be considered a sport...you NEED it to be considered a sport. Title IX folks, title IX.

This is a huge plus for females, screws males.

[NDAlum]

Re: Federal Judge Rules Cheerleading is not a Sport

For Title IX purposes (I hate that worthless law), we should all want them to find cheerleading to be a sport, because that would quickly equalize numbers football programs cause and could lead to rapid growth in lacrosse and a desperately needed stabilization in wrestling (which itself could be considered a quasi-sport).

Didn't read thread before I posted lol...but this is dead on.

It's so unfair in its current state.

[Jukeman]

Re: Federal Judge Rules Cheerleading is not a Sport

If cheerleading isnt a sport, than what is fitness?

They compete in cheerleading

shouldnt this be on judge judy???

eh its wiki but I agree...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sport

[mKoz26]

Re: Federal Judge Rules Cheerleading is not a Sport

Gymnastics definitely isn't. Neither is figure skating. It's 100% based on judges.

MMA and Boxing only go to a human vote when a clear winner is not decided after a certain number of rounds of contest.

Who puts the cap on how often a sport goes to decision whilst still maintaining "sport" status? Is that your job?

[SuperBowlNachos]

Re: Federal Judge Rules Cheerleading is not a Sport

Who puts the cap on how often a sport goes to decision whilst still maintaining "sport" status? Is that your job?

Non-sport can have MMA and Boxing for all I care as I am not sure you could count beating the **** out of each other as sport.

Is WWE type professional wrestling a sport? It's a physical activity. What about being a stuntman?